If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For ‘Em?

[Ro_Laren]

I was watching an old Big Bang Theory episode that was guest starring Stan Lee. After Penny gets Stan Lee’s address she brings Sheldon to Stan’s house so that he can ask for an autograph. Stan Lee gets mad after Sheldon enters his house after confusing sarcasm for an invitation to come in. When Stan yells at his wife to call the cops, Penny immediately runs away from Stan’s house.

This made me wonder: if someone calls the police on you, regardless of whether or not you did something illegal, are you legally obliged to stay and wait for the police? Or is it okay to leave? Do the laws vary by state? Technically, Penny just rang Stan’s doorbell, but it could be argued that she was trespassing on his property by walking up to his door.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

Yeah, I guess it would depend on how you got in the house and if you were asked to leave.

Does the property have No Trespassing signs?

I know someone who was in their bank about an overdraft fee. He got pretty upset, was asked to leave and eventually got arrested for Disturbing The Peace and Trespassing (assumedly because he was asked to leave).

 

[Ro_Laren]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

In the episode, Penny never entered the house: only Sheldon did. She just walked up the driveway, walked onto his porch, rang the doorbell, and talked to him for two seconds. Stan was annoyed that they were even there asking for an autograph, but didn't tell his wife to call the cops until Sheldon entered Stan's house after mistaking a sarcastic invitation to watch a Lakers game on TV as a real invitation.

Regardless about the details of the episode, it is an interesting question: are you legally obliged to wait for the cops if someone calls them on you.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

I shouldn't think so. Particularly here, where Stan wanted them off off his property their leaving would not be a problem. Unless they damaged something or stole something, leaving shouldn't pose a problem.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

I'm not a lawyer, and even if I'm right, criminal trespass might be an exception, but generally speaking otherwise, one might be better served to wait quietly and peacefully for the police. Leaving the scene makes you look guilty, and gives anyone who might want to fake additional "evidence" against you the opportunity to do so without you seeing what they're doing.

 

[Tosk]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

Staying is a good idea if you're innocent, but that doesn't mean you have a legal obligation to stay.

I once called the cops because someone used a 1 for the word one and a U for the word you.

 

[Amaris]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

I was watching an old Big Bang Theory episode that was guest starring Stan Lee. After Penny gets Stan Lee’s address she brings Sheldon to Stan’s house so that he can ask for an autograph. Stan Lee gets mad after Sheldon enters his house after confusing sarcasm for an invitation to come in. When Stan yells at his wife to call the cops, Penny immediately runs away from Stan’s house.

This made me wonder: if someone calls the police on you, regardless of whether or not you did something illegal, are you legally obliged to stay and wait for the police? Or is it okay to leave? Do the laws vary by state? Technically, Penny just rang Stan’s doorbell, but it could be argued that she was trespassing on his property by walking up to his door.

If you leave, they will come to your home.

 

[shivkala]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

Over the years there have been many stories of customers at Best Buy, who have been detained by Best Buy staff for accusations of theft. One such story is here. The discussion usually turns to whether or not Best Buy has the right to detain you, as they cannot formally charge you with theft.

Someone in the link I provided mentioned that in California, at least, you can't be accused of stealing, until you've actually exited the store with the merchandise, so in this case, leaving before the police show up could cause you to be in bigger trouble.

On the other hand, the police will arrest you if you leave the scene of an accident. So, in theory, you could be innocent (the other person could be 100% at fault), but if you leave before the police arrive, you could end up being arrested. So, I'm not sure if that extends to all issues, or just car accidents.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

If Best Buy (or any other retailer) "detains" you, they're probably just asking you to come to the back with them, or come back into the store.

Most store have policies forbidding their employees to physically stop a suspected shoplifter, mainly because of liability issues if either person get injured.

Of course, that doesn't stop some employees from tackling potential thieves.

 

[LordMudd]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

The catch is they can arrest you for flight to avoid prosecution, even though the prosecution may later prove you innocent.

There was an incident here where Walmart employees ran down a shoplifter in summer and held him for police in the parking lot, on the concrete. He ended up with 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Now a Walmart employee is automatically terminated for any attempt to detain any suspect.

CCC.

 

[Ro_Laren]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

I once called the cops because someone used a 1 for the word one and a U for the word you.

Lol: Trekbbs limits the characters allowed in thread titles.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

You could claim that you didn't know the police had been called. Did somebody say to you "I called the cops, so you better stay right where you are"? If not, you could always say you didn't hear them.

As for Best Buy: They can't detain you. All you have to do is ask them if you're under arrest. They'll say no. So you can leave.

They may bar you from the store, but let's be honest - why would you need to go there anyway?

 

[shivkala]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

I only brought up the Best Buy cases because they've come up before. They seem to be the ones who are accused the most of detaining shoppers and calling the police. From accounts I've read, most people feel they do have to stay.

The whole "I didn't hear them say that" sounds like a "he said/she said" thing. Again, I think you're better served in waiting and explaining things to the police, then to leave, especially if you are pretending you didn't hear their threat.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

I only brought up the Best Buy cases because they've come up before. They seem to be the ones who are accused the most of detaining shoppers and calling the police. From accounts I've read, most people feel they do have to stay.

But these people feel wrong. They DON'T have to stay, unless they are actually under arrest by the actual police. If anyone from the store says otherwise, they're a damn liar. Store employees have precisely ZERO authority to stop or restrain you.

 

[Commishsleer]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

Run.

The police aren't going to bother to turn up if you're not there.

And how much trouble are they going to investigate your identity for a non-crime. And if you're not there then fictional Stan Lee looks like a nutter.

 

[Mudd]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

No, you do not.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

The catch is they can arrest you for flight to avoid prosecution, even though the prosecution may later prove you innocent.

You can't be arrested for flight to avoid arrest IF YOU ARE NOT UNDER ARREST.

And since only the police can arrest you...well, you do the math.

 

[Captrek]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

No, you don't have to wait for the cops, but if you find this question comes up a lot you should probably reconsider your behavior.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

I was watching an old Big Bang Theory episode that was guest starring Stan Lee. After Penny gets Stan Lee’s address she brings Sheldon to Stan’s house so that he can ask for an autograph. Stan Lee gets mad after Sheldon enters his house after confusing sarcasm for an invitation to come in. When Stan yells at his wife to call the cops, Penny immediately runs away from Stan’s house.

This made me wonder: if someone calls the police on you, regardless of whether or not you did something illegal, are you legally obliged to stay and wait for the police? Or is it okay to leave? Do the laws vary by state? Technically, Penny just rang Stan’s doorbell, but it could be argued that she was trespassing on his property by walking up to his door.

Actually, it is not regardless or whether you did something legal or not -- that's the whole point.

It varies by Federal, state and local laws. For example: if you are in a traffic accident, even just a rear-ending and nobody was hurt but you did the damage, and the police are called, and you left the scene before they got there, it's considered fleeing the scene of a crime.

Another problem is, aside from the obvious violations of the law, it's not actually possible for you to know whether you are in violation of any of the hundreds of thousands of Federal, state, and local laws on the books currently. Litterally, just a few years ago the Fedzilla government had an official from some department state that they litterally don't know how many laws there are and have no way or knowing for sure if you are even violating them. It's such a complicated tangled mess you read and comprehend it all in your spare moments in a lifetime.


But, having said all that, it depends on the laws. If somebody calls the polcie on you, it can't be for no reason, otherwise that person can be fined or even arrested for filing a false police report, or at a minimum be warned for calling the police for no legitimate reason (which can be the same if using 911 in the same improper manner). The police will come and talk to you, tell you about the complaint and just ask some questions to makre sure all in all right, and move on. But if your'e guilty, you go to Local Pound Me in the Ass Jail.

 

[Captrek]

Re: If Some1 Calls the Cops On U Do U Legally Have to Stay & Wait For

For example: if you are in a traffic accident, even just a rear-ending and nobody was hurt but you did the damage, and the police are called, and you left the scene before they got there, it's considered fleeing the scene of a crime.

No, it's not considered fleeing the scene of a crime. It's considered fleeing the scene of an accident, and fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime. Whether or not the accident itself is a criminal matter is a separate issue.